Welcome to the Melbourne Community Daily Discussion Thread.
Checking in, DT fam. Hope you’re all well.
Oh hey, I can see my house from there!
Sky pretty.
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That’s a great photo. Love the colours in it.
Doing well but sleepy.
Hope you are doing ok as well.
oh wow, that is beautiful.
🧡💜💙
Some evening cat relaxation for y'all
teddy is still munted as.
Awww.
That must be so comforting having kitty there like that with you.
It’s theraprrrrreutic <3
Purrrrrrfect ❤️
Oh mah gourd oh mah gourd oh mah gourd. Tonight’s dinner was incredible and I got 4.5/5 yum yums from the family.
My dinner
Image of a bowl of homemade beef pho with noodles, bean shoots and coriander.
That looks sensational!
Thank you. It was really good.
Yummy. I could do with a hot bowl of noodles right now. So nice and comforting in cold weather.
What sort of noodles have you used in your dish?
Also gimme gimme gimme!
gimme gimme gimme!
A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT!
WON’T SOMEBODY HELP ME CHASE THE DARKNESS AWAY‽DLOOO DLOOOO DLODLOOOOOO DLODLOOO DLODLOO
I wish I could double…even triple…upvote you for the sheer effort that went into nailing the DLOOOs :)
I ‘sing’ along to them everytime haha! I could never leave them out 😅
Stud, may I suggest the series Gimme Gimme Gimme with Kathy Burke. I think you will love it.
They are flat rice noodles.
Oh ok. I don’t think I’ve seen them that colour before.
Are they infused with anything?
My broth was dark so when I cooked the noodles they took on some of the colour.
Gees that looks delicious. I just might have to learn how to make that.
I’m not the sort of person who shares memes but it encapsulates my current view and why I’m doing all this. Also it just really struck a chord.Day 7 is complete and I’m feeling stronger than an ox. Well, I was born in the year of the ox so I guess it fits. Still off the alcohol and Mr Peeler accepts that there’s no tipple to be had during the day. It’s doing us all good!
Have a great day all!
Your progress is awesome!! I love hearing about it!
Quitting vapes has been easier than I thought. God what a fucking waste of money. GP bulk billed my telephone appt. Amazing weather. Cats are happy. Friends have been in touch, they’re both related to my old workplace so I do have some nice memories and reflections of it finally. I still have daily violent fantasies of kneecapping or bashing the brains in of the person there who sexually assaulted and harassed me and also undermined my work but I think that’s part of the healing process. I hope I don’t see him though. I’m a pacifist and he can probably fight, but it might be ugly.
Work was good, took my colleague for some driving practise before their license test tomorrow. She’s another trans woman and working with and chatting with her has been fantastic. I’m not saying cis people are an issue to work with as my boss and other colleagues are also wonderful, but talking to someone who gets almost every bit of what I’m experiencing because they’re experiencing too is really nice. She’s also not at all the stereotypical trans woman either so we can also bitch about the gatekeepers and the lack of a real trans “tribe”.
Another kinda busy night of aa and such and some food, then bed before 9. Fuck it’s nice to feel like I’m in control of my future and my plans keep coming up milhouse.
Thanks for reading.
big hugs 🤗
Thanks Seagoon, once again, someone in aa gave me an answer to potentially rid myself of resentments of things I can’t change the outcomes of because they’ve already fucking happened. and that’s kind of the point. Today is good.
Fantastic! 💜💜
Thanks oh ye of the starch.
Finished my ten sessions with the psychologist last week, they sent a report back to the GP with a recommendation that I see a psychiatrist for an ADHD diagnosis. The GP gave me a referral and I followed up. It’s $1000 just for the initial consultation, and hundreds for each subsequent appointment. WTF! Plus I can’t get in until at least December. Is it any wonder there’s a bit of a mental health crisis in this country when support is so expensive.
In case you (or anyone reading) didn’t know, many people can get up to 5 further rebated sessions with a psychologist through a GP Management Plan + Team Care Arrangement. Your GP needs to set it up but should be familiar with the process. The rebate is a bit less than the MHCP one.
If you’re in the SE, I can recommend my psych. My initial appointment was free under the Medicare thing, and then every appointment is like $150 something I think? It’s more than $100 but less than $200. Wait times are I think maybe a month or so? But it could’ve changed since then as he only does appointments every 2nd Saturday which is annoying tbh.
Thank you. SE representing! Open to your recommendation. Cheers.
rip your inbox 😂
Surprisingly enough it’s been pretty quiet.
It’s stupid that I have to pay so much to just get a script though. Ridiculous.
I might look into getting an ADHD coach, but those are super hard to find someone qualified to work with.
Can’t your gp write a script? Or do you need to keep seeing your pysch?
I wish! No they need like a special certificate or something for it. It’s crazy.
I’ve been playing the psychiatrist waiting game too but strongly recommend getting as many referrals out there as possible at least starting with general psych and not just ADHD specialists. I got lucky after pushing my GP to send more referrals out, ever though it was just for general psych it turns out there are other psychiatrists that don’t advertise as specialising in ADHD per se (because they’d be swamped), but can still actually do the assessment and prescribe medications accordingly, and are reasonably familiar with differential diagnosis. (I quite specifically didn’t want to start off with a specialist but somehow have ended up on this track) I got my first appointment within 8 weeks of my renewed push, x1 followup after 3 weeks and final assessment 6 days after ( next Monday).
Two things - firstly check what MBS item number each appointment will be under. The actual diagnosis appointment where they give you a treatment plan should be an Item 291 which has a much higher Medicare rebate - $427.75. That might make the fee less scary, if that’s the $1000 appt… If it can’t be done in one session they may use a combination of Item 296 (rebate of $246.00) and Item 306 (rebate of $173.60) first.
Second, don’t forget to check your Safety Net threshold for the year by logging into Medicare. It’s easy to hit it reasonably quick if you’ve been doing psychology sessions with large out of pocket fees. Once you hit it the psychiatrist sessions are heaps cheaper. I hit my threshold in June so was out of pocket $45.80 for my first psychiatry session (item 296) and $60.25 for my second (Item 306) - both over an hour long, and very extensive, cost $475 each.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write that and for sharing your experience. The response I got from the psychiatrist’s office did mention the Item 291 rebate, and that was in the context of an “opinion only” referral, which, if I understand correctly, means the GP manages the medication going forward. If I have follow-ups with the psych it’s $375 a session, with $125 rebated. I’ll check out the Safety Net, I wasn’t aware of it. Thanks again.
De nada, it’s such a confusing mess that I’m happy to share what I know. You’re absolutely right about your original point that it’s still so cost prohibitive to get mental health support thigh.
ADHD&BED clinic
Check this place out, it’s still expensive, but at least their waiting period is only two weeks.
Thank you! Will check it out. I’m at the point where I need answers and help, I’ve lived with this for too long, mostly unknowingly because I spent a decade between '97 and '07 getting off my tits on stimulants. That’s not a thing in my life now and the reality has come crashing down in recent years.
I was in that place when I asked my gp for a referral and by the time I’d heard back my adhd had settled down a lot, to the point where I wasn’t in such need of treatment. Knowing if it does flare up again I can see someone quickly is also very reassuring. I’d check landsharkkidd’s option first though, saving 1200 dolareedoos…
I’m at some stage this year going to look at coping mechanisms. Also definitely going to look at going to that SE clinic mentioned above, as I might also be on the autism spectrum but 2 grand is not really something I want to fork out when neither of my potential neurodivergences are really getting in the way of living a good life at the moment and I’m dealing with being in the early stages of transition and that definitely has had impact on mental health in unexpected ways.
How we all doing today?
Doing good! Wish I was out in the sunshine but am thankful I get loads of blue sky viewing from my desk. Reckon I’ll go to trivia for the first night in over a month tonight. I haven’t missed it, but wouldn’t mind a pub feed and a chat with the randoms.
How are you going?!
Doing ok thanks. Glad you got some blue skies. It’s overcast here today.
Yeah good. Chippin away.
That’s the way to be on a Wednesday
Struggling today a bit to be honest. Just a bit flat and over it all. Bit of a nervous energy in my shoulders and just… yeah dunno. Dont wanna sit still.
Sorry to hear that. Take some deep breaths, think about the good things or something upcoming you are looking forward too.
Cheers! Yeah I did the Apple Watch breath thing that was tough but helped a lot till some dickhead started an argument anyway haha
Busy busy here in the library.
How are you doing?
I am plodding along. Trying to get this assignment finished.
Okay. Wondering whether to do stuff at home or go to the art shop and buy a bunch of brushes.
I am wrecked from so much housework yesterday and the sun outside is nice. Maybe I’ll catch the tram and sit and read on the way to box hell.
What are you reading? I reckon after so much housework, taking time to do your hobbies is a good idea.
I am reading “On the edge of the Primeval Forest and More from the Primeval Forest by Albert Schweitzer”
How is it?
Bought myself a bag of dim sims to steam at home so I’m not paying $2+ each for them from the places near here. Had some for lunch. Am pleased *cabbage fart*
The worst farts I’ve ever smelled in my life were from our old dog after we gave him a dim sim to eat. They nearly peeled the wallpaper off the walls.
Yup. I agree. How did you end up cooking them?
I like to air fry them to make them a little bit crunchy but not too much.
Unconventional but I do enjoy them like that.
Kicked lunch off with some baby spring rolls. Moving onto the next course - beans and toast
When gas prices are this high I guess it’s a good idea to start making your own :|
(Also apparently I’m twelve).
Beans, beans, the musical fruit
The more you eat, the more you toot
The more you toot, the better you feel.
So let’s have beans with every meal!I feel like you could write commercial song lyrics…you know those commercials for lamb or nuts or whatever
Ah my second-favourite school chant. A true classic.
It’s actually timeless haha
Thanks for the reminder 🫠 but also isn’t everyone getting electric stoves starting from next year
Existing gas connections remain, new builds can no longer have gas connected.
Does it mean if the owner decides to change it after they buy they’re not allowed to?
They will not be allowing any new connections. So if there is a gas connection you could get a new stove, but you couldn’t connect gas if it wasn’t already there. If you build a new house on the same spot you also won’t be able to connect gas, even if there was a connection for the previous house.
I think economically a gas connection would be a very bad choice at this point - it is no longer the cheaper option to run anything, and it’s only going to get more expensive over time.
Thanks! This is all really interesting as my level of understanding about energy stops at ‘we have an energy crisis’ 🫠
We have an everything crisis, really. As far as energy goes I think it would be a safe bet to assume that sometime in the near future everything will be electric, including cars. At some point I expect you won’t be able to buy gas appliances, and then some time after that they will shut down the gas network. The same situation for petrol cars and wood stoves & heaters. It won’t be overnight, but that’s the way things are headed.
I’m not 100% sure. In an established area there will be a gas main to connect to, so I suppose one could apply for the permits and get it connected.
New estates wouldn’t have gas mains (or very limited ones) so that’s a bit of a moot point.
You are speaking my language!
Older blokes: is it a requirement where you have to grunt and groan your way through a visit to the office toilet? I swear to god some of them sound like a match at the Australian open!
People gotta know about my struggles
Ugh! ugggghhhh grrroaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh
uggh oh EaEeaeeeeuuuuuuuo
plop
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It wasn’t me. I avoid pooping in public, especially at work, unless it can’t be avoided, and if I’m that desperate it definitely isn’t a struggle coming out!
Hahahaha 🤣
I think it’s time to take my first mental health day off or something. Or maybe it’s just the overstimulation from cooking. I just… Yeah
Do it. If you can notify by email do it now, but set to deliver at start of business tomorrow. Then you’ve got the rest of tonight off too.
I’ll see how I fare up. Iunno, maybe I just need to see how I feel tomorrow + tomorrow night. Leaving early so I can watch Gran Turismo early for my other job.
My new commercial portable hotplate arrived yesterday, so I’ve been testing it out this morning. It works really well with my pressure-canner, so one of my biggest concerns about a gasless cooking future has been solved. Because it’s portable it also makes my preserving setup a bit more flexible which is nice.
Preserve the veg and meats!
Conserve the fruits we eat
Gasless hotplates will save us all
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Well, the aircon is actually an expense for the landlord (AKA mum). I’m just spending the anticipated electicity savings 🤣
I’ve been wanting to go to bed since lunch.
Kinda glad I’m childfree by choice, I would hate to be a parent of one of those poor kids from those daycares in NSW and QLD
i wont elaborate further than that, it’s in the news atm
But holy shit. The absolute worst of the worst of society being in that close proximity. Those poor children. I hope they can heal and find happiness.
The abc website is a pit of sorrow today :(
The western quolls are a happy thing though. Such cute little critters. But, I do agree - they are doubling down on the doom and gloom recently.
True that! Win for the quolls.
I’ve been up for half an hour and the temperature inside is up to 20 degrees. I’ve had crappy heating for so long this is a revelation. Old heating would have taken hours to get that high (and on cold days not managed to get that high at all) plus cost a small forturne to get there.
Splitty? its amazing hey!
It’s absolutely wonderful. I am looking forward to being able to study and not have fingers so cold that I struggle to type accurately!
The cooling over summer is going to be great too - I have had airconditioning, but it is noisy old box units that are so old it’s amazing they still work (they were old when my Mum moved in 30 years ago!). It will still have to fight against poor insulation, but my estimates are it could end up saving me about $600 a year on electricity.
If ypu’ve got a standard roof, its not a MASSIVE job to get up there and install some additional insulation bats yourself. Best tip for the splity though, get the WIFI module so you can control it with your phone. Then set up schedules so it comes on before you get up in the morning.
Unfortunately the main lounge area is a flat extension, with no access for exta insulation there. It also has a lot of windows - basically one full wall of full length single pane glass. Which is great for having a view, but terrible for heating / cooling. At least it is south facing and not getting any direct sun during summer.
There are timer options built in to the system just using the remote, so I can do that without an extra app - I’ve already got it set to come on in the morning before I get up for work tomorrow. 😀
Wait till you spend some time in a house with proper insulation and double glazing. I stayed overnight at mine last night to save the drive back to town today and nearly sobbed from how cold and miserable it was even though it’s the warmest, least shit rental I’ve lived in my whole life. I have been ruined
Insulation & double glazing is the dream. One day, if the stars align…
@RustyRaven @just_kitten I’m fortunate to have a house that was built for alpine conditions, so the insulation is exceptional. I want double glazing too, currently making do with less than ideal plastic cover on Velcro over the windows (like properly sewn ones designed for this use) which does help a lot, even though they look a bit naff.
